Valve assembly with or without integrated reducer for pressurized gas container

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a valve assembly or an on-off pressure reducer device for a pressurised gas container designed to co-operate with a conditioning connection for filling said container. The valve assembly or on-off pressure reducer comprises a filler connection ( 14 ) with a longitudinal axis, a guide end ( 18 ), and a thread ( 22 ) axially offset relative to said end. The end ( 18 ) has a periphery ( 20 ) provided with at least an impression ( 40 ) protruding outside the periphery, projecting in a plane orthogonal to said longitudinal axis, the impression ( 40 ) of said connection end being secant to a circle centred on said axis and whereof the diameter is equal to the smaller of the internal and external diameters of said thread.

The subject of the present invention is a valve with or withoutintegrated pressure reducer for pressurized-gas container and such avalve equipped with a conditioning connection for filling the containerassociated with the valve or with the integrated pressure-reducingvalve.

Numerous cylinders intended to contain a gas under pressure are equippedwith an integrated pressure-reducing valve. An integratedpressure-reducing valve consists in a single device which allows boththe cylinder to be opened or closed and also the pressure at which thegas contained in the cylinder will be delivered to be adjusted. Theseintegrated pressure-reducing valves comprise an inlet coupling withallows the container on which it is mounted to be filled using aconditioning connection connected to a source of said pressurized gas.

The attached FIGS. 1a and 1 b depict an exemplary embodiment of thefilling coupling and of the conditioning connection. FIG. 1a depicts thebody 10 of the integrated pressure-reducing valve equipped with a tappedthread 12 to which the filling coupling 14 is fixed. The coupling 14comprises a valve element 16 that shuts off the valve. The upper end 18of this coupling defines a cylindrical lateral guide surface 20 thefunction of which will be explained later on. The assembly formed by thecoupling and the pressure-reducing valve also comprises a screw thread22 for the fixing of a conditioning connection 24 depicted in FIG. 1b.The conditioning connection 24 has the overall shape of a cylindricalsleeve 26 closed by off by an end 28 into which the flexible fillingpipe 30 is fixed. Near its free end 32, the sleeve 25 has a tappedthread 34 to collaborate with the screw thread 22 of thepressure-reducing valve.

This assembly is very simple to use. The conditioning connection 24 isbrought up opposite the filling coupling 14 then pushed around thiscoupling, guided by the surface 20. By turning the conditioningconnection 24, the tapped thread 34 collaborates with the screw thread22 to secure the conditioning connection to the filling coupling in asealed way. Once this operation has been performed, the valve element 16is opened, either under the effect of the pressure of the gas in theflexible pipe 30 or by a manual operation.

It should be added that the screw thread and the tapped thread 22 and 34of the filling coupling and of the conditioning connection arestandardized and correspond to the type of gas used.

It will be understood that it is desirable to make the unauthorizedfilling of compressed-gas cylinders impossible or difficult. The reasonbehind this is that these operations when performed by the inexperiencedmay prove hazardous and may also lead to contamination of the cylinder,for example if the gas introduced into the cylinder is not the same asthe gas remaining therein or, as the case may be, if the fillingoperation is not performed with a minimum amount of precaution.

It will therefore be understood that there is a real interest in havingcylinders intended to contain pressurized gas and which are equippedwith valves with or without integrated pressure reducers, which can befilled only by the legitimate owner of the cylinder. In other words, theproblem posed is that of preventing a gas cylinder or container frombeing filled by someone who is not authorized to do so, but without thisin any way leading to complications in the cylinder-filling operation,as this would affect the productivity of the conditioning centers.

In order to achieve this goal according to the invention, the valve withor without integrated pressure reducer for a pressurized-gas containerintended to collaborate with a conditioning connection to allow saidcontainer to be filled, comprises a filling coupling having alongitudinal axis, a guide end and a screw thread offset axially withrespect to said end, said end having a contour equipped with at leastone impression protruding from said contour, in projection in a planeorthogonal to said longitudinal axis, the impression of the end of saidcoupling being secant with a circle the diameter of which is equal tothe smallest of the inside and outside diameters of said screw threadand centered on said axis.

It will be understood that, by virtue of the presence of the impressionwhich constitutes a relief on the end of the cylinder filling coupling,it is impossible for the cylinder to be filled when it should not, usinga conditioning connection of standard type. It will also be understoodthat the use of a conditioning connection having, for example, a screwthread of a larger diameter in order to get around the problem posed bythe presence of the impression would not allow the conditioningconnection to be secured to the pressure-reducing coupling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve with or withoutintegrated pressure reducer for a pressurized-gas container equippedwith a conditioning connection able to collaborate with said valve toallow said container to be filled, said valve comprising a fillingcoupling having a longitudinal axis, and a guide end and a screw threadoffset axially with respect to said end, said end having a contourequipped with at least one impression projecting from said contour, saidconditioning connection having an end equipped with a screw thread ableto collaborate with the screw thread of said valve, the screw thread ofsaid connection having at least one impression that is the mate of theimpression of the end of said coupling, in projection in a planeorthogonal to said longitudinal axis, the impression of the end of saidcoupling being secant with a circle the diameter of which is equal tothe smallest of the inside and outside diameters of the screw thread ofsaid connection and centered on said axis, by means of which, for agiven angular position about said longitudinal axis, said connection canbe engaged around said coupling and the two screw threads cancollaborate with one another.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become betterapparent from reading, the description which follows'of severalembodiments of the invention which are given by way of nonlimitingexamples.

The description refers to the appended figures in which:

FIGS. 1a and 1 b, already described, show, in vertical section, aconditioning coupling and a conditioning connection of standard type;

FIG. 2a shows, in vertical section, a filling coupling according to theinvention according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2b is a view from above of the filling coupling of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 2c is a view in vertical section of a conditioning connection ableto collaborate with the coupling of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 3a is a view in vertical section of a conditioning coupling offemale type according to the invention;

FIG. 3b shows a conditioning connection able to collaborate with thecoupling of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 4a shows, in vertical part section, a second embodiment of a malefilling coupling according to the invention;

FIG. 4b is a view in horizontal section on the line B—B of FIG. 4a;

FIG. 4c is a view in vertical section of a conditioning connection ableto collaborate with the filling coupling of FIG. 4a;

FIG. 4d is a view in section on the line D—D of the conditioningconnection of FIG. 4c;

FIG. 5a shows a first embodiment of a safety stopper in vertical sectionfor a filling coupling according to the invention;

FIG. 5b is a view in horizontal section on the line B—B of FIG. 5a;

FIG. 6a is a view in vertical section of a second embodiment of astopper for a filling coupling; and

FIG. 6b is a view in vertical part section of a tool for removing thestopper of FIG. 6a.

As has already been explained, the principle of the invention consistsin providing, at the guide end of the filling coupling, at least onerelief which projects internally or externally with respect to thecontour of this end to prevent the cylinder or, more generally, thecontainer, from being filled using a standard conditioning connection,it being possible for such filling to be obtained only using aspecifically designed conditioning connection likewise comprising amating relief which will of course be an inward one.

Referring first of all to FIGS. 2a to 2 c, a first exemplary embodimentof the invention applied to the case of the filling coupling and theconditioning connection of FIGS. 1a and 1 b will be described.

According to this embodiment, the end 18 of the filling coupling has arelief 40 which projects from the lateral wall 20 of this end over alimited arc of a circle. The distance between the axis X and X′ of thecoupling and the outer edge 40 a of the relief 40 is equal to L. Thislength L is slightly greater than the outside radius D/2 of the externalscrew thread 22 of the integrated pressure-reducing valve body.

As FIG. 2c shows, the tapped thread 34 produced at the end of theconditioning connection 24 is provided with a notch 42 corresponding tothe shape of the relief 40. More specifically, the distance between theaxis Y-Y′ of the coupling connection 22 and the bottom of the notch 42which is termed L′ is very slightly greater than the distance L.Furthermore, the length H′ of the screw thread 22 of the conditioningconnection is shorter than the length H which separates the lowershoulder 18 a of the end 18 of the filling coupling from the upper face10 a of the body 2 of the pressure-reducing valve.

To fit the conditioning connection 24 onto the filling coupling 14, theopen end of the connection 24 is offered up opposite the end 18 of thecoupling. Of course, the connection 24 has to be orientated angularly sothat the recess 42 coincides with the relief 40. In this position, allthat is required is for the connection to be lowered with respect to thecoupling and for the connection to be screwed onto the screw thread 22.This operation can be performed because the length H′ of the tappedthread of the connection is shorter than the length H of the couplingbelow its end 18.

In the example described previously, just one relief 40 projecting outof the end 18 of the filling coupling was provided. It will beunderstood that several of these could be provided, the conditioningconnection itself being equipped at its tapped thread 32 withcorresponding recesses. Special combinations of reliefs and recesses mayconstitute a form of coding of the pressure-reducing valve and thereforeof the cylinder, the conditioning connection having of course to conformto the coding corresponding, for example, to different kinds ofcompressed gas contained in the associated cylinders.

It will also be understood that, unlike with a conditioning connection24 of the type depicted in FIG. 1b, it will be impossible to couple theconditioning connection to the filling coupling and therefore to fillthe cylinder on which the integrated pressure-reducing valve is mounted.

Referring now to FIGS. 3a and 3 b, one embodiment of the invention willnow be described for the case in which the filling coupling is of thefemale type. FIG. 3a depicts part of the body 50 of the integratedpressure-reducing valve in the bore 51 of which the female fillingcoupling 52 is mounted. This coupling 52 essentially comprises a recessof axis X-X′ reference 54 comprising a guiding upper part 58 and a lowerpart 60 equipped with a tapped thread 62. The filling coupling 52 ofcourse comprises a valve element 64.

A peg 68 is fixed in the wall of the part 58 of the recess 54. This peg68 constitutes the impression within the meaning of the presentinvention. The distance L₂ between the end 68 a of the peg 68 and theaxis X-X′ of the coupling is less than or equal to the outside radiusD′/2 of the filtering 62.

FIG. 3b shows an exemplary embodiment of a conditioning connection 70tailored to the filling coupling of FIG. 3a. This connection comprisesan end 72 to act on the valve element 64 of the coupling, a firstcylindrical part 74, the diameter of which corresponds to that of thelower part 60 of the recess 54 of the coupling and which is equippedwith a screw thread 76 to collaborate with the tapped thread 62 of thecoupling and a second cylindrical part 78, the diameter of whichcorresponds to that of the upper part 58 of the recess of the coupling.The screw thread 76 of the connection comprises a longitudinal slot 79of which the dimensions, in cross section on a plane orthogonal to theaxis Y-Y′ of the connection, are the mate of those of the peg 68. Thesecond cylindrical part 78 of the connection comprises an annular groove80 into which the upper end of the slot 79 opens. The axial length H₁ ofthe groove 80 is at least equal to the length H′₁ of the tapped thread62 of the coupling and the distance '2 between the bottom of the slot 79and the axis Y-Y′ of the connection is slightly shorter than thedistance L2 between the face 68 a of the peg 68 and the axis X-X′ of thecoupling.

The use of the conditioning connection 70 with the filling coupling ofFIG. 3a is clearly evident from the foregoing description. Theconnection needs to be offered up facing the recess 54 of the couplingin such a way that the slot 79 of the connection coincides angularlywith the peg 68. The connection 70 can then be engaged in the recess 54of the coupling and the connection can be screwed onto the tapped thread62 of the coupling by virtue of the presence of the annular groove 80which allows the connection to turn freely with respect to the coupling.

A second embodiment of integrated pressure-reducing valve comprising amale filling coupling will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4ato 4 d.

The coupling 90 comprises a screw thread 92 for fixing onto thepressure-reducing valve body 94. This coupling also comprises a guideend 96 for the conditioning connection 98 depicted in FIG. 4c. As shownbetter in FIG. 4b, the side wall 100 of the guide end 96 has a roughlysquare shape, the corners 102 of which are chamfered. These corners formthe impressions of the coupling within the meaning of the presentinvention. The coupling 90 also comprises a screw thread 104 for thefixing of the conditioning connection 98. The screw thread 104 has anoutside diameter D/2, and the distance between the axis X-X′ of thecoupling and the chamfered corners of the periphery of the end 96 isequal to L1. This distance L1 is at least equal to the radius D/2 of thescrew thread 104. It will be understood that the square shape of theside wall of the end 96 constitutes reliefs or impressions similar tothose described in conjunction with the first two embodiments. There aretherefore four of these reliefs in this particular instance.

FIG. 4c depicts the conditioning connection 98 which has a sleeve 106with an end wall 108 into which the coupling 110 of the filling pipeopens. At its free end 112 the sleeve 106 is equipped with a tappedthread 114 able to collaborate with the screw thread 104 of the coupling90. As shown better in FIG. 4d, the tapped thread 114 has four recessessuch as 116 arranged at 90° C. from one another and corresponding to thechamfered corners 102 of the side wall of the guide end 96 of thecoupling 90. It will be understood that, by offering the conditioningconnection 98 up opposite the end 96 of the filling coupling with anappropriate angular orientation, the recesses 116 allow the conditioningconnection to be engaged with the filling coupling 90. As in the case ofthe previous embodiments, the axial length L₃ of the tapped thread 112is greater than the length L′₃ corresponding to the cylindrical portion120 of the coupling 90 which separates the guide end 96 of this couplingfrom the screw thread 104.

In order to further improve safety in the use of the cylinders equippedwith pressure-reducing valves according to the invention, it is possibleto envision safety stoppers to cover the filling coupling and make itmore difficult for unauthorized users to access it.

FIGS. 5a and 5 b describe a first embodiment of such a stopper.

In FIGS. 5a and 5 b the stopper 130 is tailored to a filling coupling 90of the type already described in conjunction with FIG. 4a. The stopper130 consists of a cylindrical body 132 in which there is a square femaleimpression 134 corresponding to the shape of the end part 96 of thecoupling 90. A rotary ring 136 is mounted to rotate freely in the body132 and held in place in terms of translation by a crimping 138. Thering 136 also has a female square impression 140 corresponding to theshape of the end 96 of the filling coupling.

The rotation of this ring 136 with respect to the body 132 is limited to20° by virtue of an angular stop system embodied by an aperture 140machined in the ring 136 accommodating a pin 142 connected to the body132. This rotation allows the stopper to be placed in one of thefollowing two states:

a locked state in which the two squares are angularly offset; and

an unlocked state when the two squares coincide.

A spring 144 allows the stopper to be kept in the locked state.

The stopper 130 can be mounted on the filling coupling without anyspecial tooling. The female square impression 140 of the ring needs tobe offered up to face the square 96 of the filling coupling. Once thisoperation has been accomplished, the stopper has to be pushed down whileat the same time turning it so as to overcome the force of the spring144 and reach the unlocked state. Once the square 96 of the fillingcoupling is in the square housing 134 of the stopper body, the spring144 can return the ring 130 to state 1 (the stopper is mounted andlocked).

A seal 146 of the bellows type, bonded into the bottom of the body ofthe stopper 130 bears against the top of the filling coupling. It hasthe function of preventing the ingress of dust, water, moisture, etc.into the well of the valve element of the filling coupling. If the valveelement of the filling coupling leaks, the bellows seal 146 deforms andallows the overpressure to discharge toward the ambient surroundings.

In the above configuration, once mounted, the stopper is connected interms of rotation to the filling coupling. This non-freedom in terms ofrotation may induce someone to force it with a tool (mole grips or waterpump pliers), which would lead to external damage to the stopper, but inno case will the tool, whatever tool is used, be able to transmit enoughtorque to unscrew the filling coupling.

To avoid this inconvenience, FIG. 6a shows an alternative form in whichthe stopper of the filling coupling is free to turn. The body 132 of thestopper is enveloped in a plastic cap 150 crimped at 152 and which, byfriction, is supposed to turn the body to fit it on the fillingcoupling. Once mounted on the filling coupling, this cap 150 is free toturn and turns freely if forced.

The stopper can be extracted only with a special tool 160 depicted inFIG. 6b. The use of the tool is very simple and can be done with onehand.

The body 162 of the stopper extracting tool is in the form of a tube theinside diameter of which is a sliding fit on the outside diameter of thebody 132 of the stopper. The body of the tool has a vertical slot 164 inwhich a retractable hook 166 can be housed. This hook can turn about aball-joint axis 168 so as to be able to retract as the tool is fitted onthe stopper that is to be extracted. An elastic ring 170 allows theretractable hook 166 to be brought permanently into the workconfiguration. A collar 172 on the one hand traps the axis 168 of thehook 166 in its housing and, on the other hand, allows the removal toolto be manipulated. This collar 172 is forcibly mounted on the body 162of the tool.

To remove the stopper from the filling coupling, all that is required isfor the tubular body 162 of the extraction tool to be slipped around thestopper. During this operation, to make it easier for the tool to bepassed, the hook 166 is retracted. Once the end of the hook 166 hasprotruded beyond the bottom of the stopper corresponding to the crimping138, the elastic ring 170 causes it to return to its work position (inthis position, the tool 160 is mounted on the stopper that is to beremoved). To begin extraction, it is necessary first of all to move thetool up by turning it in such a way that the hook 166 finds one of thehousings 142 provided in the lower edge of the ring of the stopper. Oncethis operation has been completed, the tool needs to be turned to combatthe force of the spring 144 of the stopper so as to turn the stopperinto the unlocked state. Once the stopper is unlocked, all that remainsis for it to be removed by pulling the tool upward. To retrieve thestopper 9, all that remains is for it to be expelled from the tubularbody of the tool 160 via the opposite side to the hook 166.

What is claimed is:
 1. An integrated pressure reducing valve for apressurized-fluid container intended to collaborate with a conditioningconnection (24, 70, 98) to allow said container to be filled,comprising: a filling coupling (14, 52, 90) having a longitudinal axis,a guide end (18, 58, 96) and a screw thread (22, 62, 104) offset axiallywith respect to said end, said end having a contour equipped with atleast one impression (40, 68, 102) protruding from said contour, inprojection in a plane orthogonal to said longitudinal axis, theimpression of the end of said coupling being secant with a circlecentered on said axis and the diameter of which is equal to the smallestof the inside and outside diameters of said screw thread.
 2. A valve fora pressurized-fluid container intended to collaborate with aconditioning connection (24, 70, 98) to allow said container to befilled, comprising: a filling coupling (14, 52, 90) having alongitudinal axis, a guide end (18, 58, 96) and a screw thread (22, 62,104) offset axially with respect to said end, said end having a contourequipped with at least one impression (40, 68, 102) protruding from saidcontour, in projection in a plane orthogonal to said longitudinal axis,the impression of the end of said coupling being secant with a circlecentered on said axis and the diameter of which is equal to the smallestof the inside and outside diameters of said screw thread.
 3. Anintegrated pressure-reducing valve for a pressurized-gas containerequipped with a conditioning connection (24, 70, 98) able to collaboratewith said valve to allow said container to be filled, said valvecomprising a filling coupling (14, 52, 90) having a longitudinal axis,and a guide end (18, 58, 96) and a screw thread (22, 62, 104) offsetaxially with respect to said end, said end having a contour equippedwith at least one impression (40, 68, 102) projecting from said contour,said conditioning connection having an end equipped with a screw thread(34, 76, 114) able to collaborate with the screw thread of said valve,the screw thread of said connection having at least one impression (42,79, 116) that is the mate of the impression of the end of said coupling,in projection in a plane orthogonal to said longitudinal axis theimpression of the end of said coupling being secant with a circlecentered on said axis and the diameter of which is equal to the smallestof the inside and outside diameters of the screw thread of saidconnection, by means of which, for a given angular position about saidlongitudinal axis, said connection can be engaged around said couplingand the two screw threads can collaborate with one another.
 4. The valveas claimed in claim 3, wherein the axial distance between the impression(40, 68, 102) of the end of said coupling and the screw thread (22, 62,104) of said valve is greater than the axial length of the screw thread(34, 76, 114) of said connection.
 5. The valve as claimed in claim 3,wherein said coupling (14, 90) is male and in that the screw thread ofthe valve is an external screw thread (22, 104) and the screw thread ofsaid connection is a tapped thread (34, 114), in that said impression(40, 102) of the end of the coupling protrudes from said contour and inthat the impression (42, 116) of said coupling is a recess formed in thetapped thread (34, 114) of said connection.
 6. The valve as claimed inclaim 4, wherein said coupling (14, 90) is male and in that the screwthread of the valve is an external screw thread (22, 104) and the screwthread of said connection is a tapped thread (34, 114), in that saidimpression (40, 102) of the end of the coupling protrudes from saidcontour and in that the impression (42, 116) of said coupling is arecess formed in the tapped thread (34, 114) of said connection.
 7. Thevalve as claimed in claim 3, wherein said coupling (52) is female, inthat the screw thread of the valve is a tapped thread (62) and the screwthread of the connection is an external screw thread (76), in that theimpression (68) of the end of the coupling protrudes into the contour ofthe end of the coupling and in that the impression of said connection isa recess (79) in the external screw thread of said connection.
 8. Thevalve as claimed in claim 4, wherein said coupling (52) is female, inthat the screw thread of the valve is a tapped thread (62) and the screwthread of the connection is an external screw thread (76), in that theimpression (68) of the end of the coupling protrudes into the contour ofthe end of the coupling and in that the impression of said connection isa recess (79) in the external screw thread of said connection.
 9. Thevalve as claimed in claim 1, wherein said valve comprises a number ofimpressions.
 10. The valve as claimed in claim 2, wherein said valvecomprises a number of impressions.
 11. The valve as claimed in claim 3,wherein said valve comprises a number of impressions.
 12. The valve asclaimed in claim 4, wherein said valve comprises a number ofimpressions.
 13. The valve as claimed in claim 5, wherein said valvecomprises a number of impressions.
 14. The valve as claimed in claim 6,wherein said valve comprises a number of impressions.
 15. A conditioningconnection (24, 70, 98) able to collaborate with a valve or a valve withintegrated pressure reducer as claimed in claim 1 to allow saidcontainer to be filled, said conditioning connection having an endequipped with a screw thread (34, 76, 114) able to collaborate with thescrew thread of said valve, the screw thread of said connection havingat least one impression (42, 79, 116) that is the mate of the impressionof the end of said coupling, in projection in a plane orthogonal to saidlongitudinal axis the impression of the end of said coupling beingsecant with a circle centered on said axis and the diameter of which isequal to the smallest of the inside and outside diameters of the screwthread of said connection, by means of which, for a given angularposition about said longitudinal axis, said connection can be engagedaround said coupling and the two screw threads can collaborate with oneanother.
 16. A conditioning connection (24, 70, 98) able to collaboratewith a valve or a valve with integrated pressure reducer as claimed inclaim 2 to allow said container to be filled, said conditioningconnection having an end equipped with a screw thread (34, 76, 114) ableto collaborate with the screw thread of said valve, the screw thread ofsaid connection having at least one impression (42, 79, 116) that is themate of the impression of the end of said coupling, in projection in aplane orthogonal to said longitudinal axis the impression of the end ofsaid coupling being secant with a circle centered on said axis and thediameter of which is equal to the smallest of the inside and outsidediameters of the screw thread of said connection, by means of which, fora given angular position about said longitudinal axis, said connectioncan be engaged around said coupling and the two screw threads cancollaborate with one another.
 17. A cylinder of pressurized fluid whichis equipped with an integrated pressure-reducing valve as claimed inclaim
 1. 18. A cylinder of pressurized fluid which is equipped with avalve as claimed in claim
 2. 19. The use of a gas cylinder as claimed inclaim 1 in a welding, cutting or heat treatment operation.